by Jack Mars
“You’re sure you don’t want to come?” she asked for what must have been the fifth time. “I can bring a plus-one.”
Zero shook his head. He’d had his absolute fill of presidents, enough to last a lifetime. “I really have to move the rest of this stuff today. But thanks.”
“Suit yourself.” She hefted her purse, tucked her phone in it, and then quickly kissed him on the cheek.
Then her face turned beet-red as she realized what she’d just done. “Sorry. Force of habit.”
He grinned. “It’s okay. It’ll take some getting used to.”
“Yeah. It will.” She headed toward the front door. “Lock up after you leave? Oh, and Kent.”
He craned his neck toward the foyer to see her.
“Keep the key. Just in case.”
Then she scooted out the door.
He chuckled to himself as he reached for his box once again. But he was halfway down the stairs before he realized the full intent of the statement.
She’s still holding out hope that it’ll work for us.
And then he doubted if the kiss was accidental at all, or the invite for him to stay and “coexist” was as innocent as it sounded.
And then he sighed heavily, because he was returning to the CIA and she was going to be his boss but also his friend and his former team member and his former lover, and all of that meant that nothing was less complicated than before. If anything, it was more so.
“Someday you’ll get your shit together,” he muttered to himself.
He set the box down with the others and glanced around the partially finished basement. He had to admit that the work he’d done looked pretty damn good. If only he’d had the drive to keep going, to finish the job.
It was a work in progress.
It was rough. It wasn’t pretty. But when it was finished, if it was ever finished, it would be beautiful.
There’s a metaphor in there somewhere… he thought wryly.
His phone rang in his pocket. It was Todd Strickland—possibly to congratulate him on his return to the agency. He smiled as he answered it.
“Hey, Todd.”
“Zero.” Strickland did not sound congratulatory or even pleasant. “We need to talk.”
“Uh… sure. What’s up?”
“I can’t locate Sara.”
Zero blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Her cell service has been cut off. I called her roommate at the co-op where she lives, and she hasn’t seen her in two days. She’s been looking too. No one has seen her.”
A pit formed in his stomach. “I thought you were keeping tabs on her.”
“I was!” Todd protested. “But last time I saw her, she got angry. She shouted at me, demanded that I leave her alone, so I backed off for a bit, and then this happened…”
“Todd, slow down,” Zero told him. “Has Maya talked to her lately?”
“She tried, but no answer.”
He remembered all too well his visit to Florida: Sara calling the police on him. Shrieking at him to get out and leave her alone.
Her admission that she’d been doing drugs.
“I need you to text me her home address,” Zero instructed. “And tell me whatever you know about that’s been going on with her.”
Strickland was silent for an uncomfortably long time.
“Todd!”
“Okay. I’ll tell you,” said the young agent. “But… you’re not going to like it. What are you going to do?”
Zero was already up the stairs and had his keys in hand. “I’m going to the airport.”
NOW AVAILABLE!
ASSASSIN ZERO
(An Agent Zero Spy Thriller—Book #7)
“You will not sleep until you are finished with AGENT ZERO. A superb job creating a set of characters who are fully developed and very much enjoyable. The description of the action scenes transport us into a reality that is almost like sitting in a movie theater with surround sound and 3D (it would make an incredible Hollywood movie). I can hardly wait for the sequel.”
--Roberto Mattos, Books and Movie Reviews
When a mysterious ultrasonic weapon attack may be the preamble to something greater, Agent Zero sets off on a global manhunt to stop the ultimate devastation before it is too late.
Agent Zero, trying to come up for air on the heels of the President’s impeachment and Sarah’s close brush with danger, wants to retire from the service and try to get his family back together. But fate has other choices for him. With the safety of the world at stake, Zero knows he must follow the call to duty.
Yet his memories are shifting, and with it, new secrets are flooding back. Tormented, at his low point, Agent Zero may be able to save the world—but he may not be able to escape from himself.
ASSASSIN ZERO (Book #7) is an un-putdownable espionage thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Book #8 in the AGENT ZERO series will be available soon.
“Thriller writing at its best.”
--Midwest Book Review (re Any Means Necessary)
“One of the best thrillers I have read this year.”
--Books and Movie Reviews (re Any Means Necessary)
Also available is Jack Mars’ #1 bestselling LUKE STONE THRILLER series (7 books), which begins with Any Means Necessary (Book #1), a free download with over 800 five star reviews!
ASSASSIN ZERO
(An Agent Zero Spy Thriller—Book #7)
Jack Mars
Jack Mars is the USA Today bestselling author of the LUKE STONE thriller series, which includes seven books. He is also the author of the new FORGING OF LUKE STONE prequel series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the AGENT ZERO spy thriller series, comprising seven books (and counting).
ANY MEANS NECESSARY (book #1), which has over 800 five star reviews, is available as a free download on Kobo!
Jack loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.Jackmarsauthor.com to join the email list, receive a free book, receive free giveaways, connect on Facebook and Twitter, and stay in touch!
BOOKS BY JACK MARS
LUKE STONE THRILLER SERIES
ANY MEANS NECESSARY (Book #1)
OATH OF OFFICE (Book #2)
SITUATION ROOM (Book #3)
OPPOSE ANY FOE (Book #4)
PRESIDENT ELECT (Book #5)
OUR SACRED HONOR (Book #6)
HOUSE DIVIDED (Book #7)
FORGING OF LUKE STONE PREQUEL SERIES
PRIMARY TARGET (Book #1)
PRIMARY COMMAND (Book #2)
PRIMARY THREAT (Book #3)
AN AGENT ZERO SPY THRILLER SERIES
AGENT ZERO (Book #1)
TARGET ZERO (Book #2)
HUNTING ZERO (Book #3)
TRAPPING ZERO (Book #4)
FILE ZERO (Book #5)
RECALL ZERO (Book #6)
ASSASSIN ZERO (Book #7)